Candle Lake, Sask., officials seek approval for firebreak as wildfire threat increases

As wildfires rapidly advance in Saskatchewan, communities like Candle Lake are ramping up their emergency preparedness efforts.

The Shoe fire in northern Saskatchewan, which recently merged with the nearby Camp fire into one blaze, has grown to 216,000 hectares in size and was just 21 kilometres from the community of Candle Lake, about 200 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, on Tuesday.

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Candle Lake officials said at a news conference Tuesday that the community has formally requested approval from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) to build a protective firebreak along Highway 120.

"We do have some serious concerns up here in the north," Candle Lake emergency fire Chief Jim Arnold said.

"We're asking for the province to act immediately to help protect the community."

Firebreaks typically involve clear-cutting large swaths of forest to remove potential fuel from a forest fire. Candle Lake's proposed firebreak would run from Minowukaw to the junction with Highway 265, and is intended to help protect subdivisions and nearby communities from the fast-approaching wildfire.

"When you combine that Candle Lake and Paddockwood area, we're trying to make sure that also the two crown jewels, the two parks we have here, are safe from the possibility of having a fire come through," Arnold said.

Arnold is urging the SPSA to approve the fireguard now, saying it would be used as a precaution for future wildfires.

"This is not a just a one time thing, this could protect the whole area of Cadillac and Paddockwood from a fire approaching from the southeast or from the east," Arnold said.

"So all we're trying to do is is make our point that we need some help and we need some support." 

Firebreaks usually built in off-season: SPSA

At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, SPSA president Marlo Pritchard said Candle Lake was not yet experiencing an imminent threat requiring a firebreak.

"There are requirements when we do mitigation efforts," said Pritchard. "We also want to make sure that the plan of future mitigation and location and all that aligns with the environmental concerns and doesn't make a situation worse."

Pritchard said the SPSA typically sets up firebreaks during the off-season.

"Typically not when in a fire season, it's usually off-season, but they have great skills to come in and say, 'OK this is the plan. This is the best option that will protect the values or the community best.'"

Pritchard said the SPSA is working with Candle Lake to find the best option.

"I cannot give you a timeframe for that, but we're going to work as quickly as we can with our specialists and with the community as well," Pritchard said.

The SPSA moved its incident command centre from Lower Fishing Lake to Candle Lake between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. CST Tuesday. More than 125 personnel are now stationed in the community.

Emergency evacuation preparation

Several communities surrounding Candle Lake have already been evacuated, and Highways 106, 120, 912 and 913 remain closed due to fire activity.

"My understanding is if it gets within 15 kilometres is when we start to make those kinds of decisions," Candle Lake Mayor Colleen Lavoie said.

Lavoie said the community is starting to prepare for the possibility of evacuation and a team is setting up a centre to co-ordinate the effort.

"We're hoping that you'll be able to just drive in, drive through, give your information and contact information where you're going and be able to leave quite quickly."

She asked residents thinking of leaving the community to inform officials before doing so.

"I think we would really appreciate having contact information so we know all where all the residents or cabin owners are."

Lavoie said the resort village is also stepping up to support crews by providing meals and emergency assistance where needed.

"The firefighters have been very thankful for the meals and the support they're getting from the community all around us, so very thankful for them," Lavoie said.